Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 27 May, 2018
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind ...” (Rom. 12:2)
Morning Service - 11:00 AM - Rev. M. McGeown
Jonathan: David’s Covenant Friend (10)
David Shows Kindness for Jonathan’s Sake
[download]
[youtube]
Scripture Reading: II Samuel 9
Text: II Samuel 9
I. An Unworthy Recipient
II. A Faithful Mercy
III. A Generous Provision
Psalms: 98:1-9; 78:32-37; 15:1-5; 132:10-18
Evening Service - 6:00 PM - Rev. M. McGeown
The Ineffectiveness of the Church’s Enemies
[download]
[youtube]
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 54
Text: Isaiah 54:17
I. Their Formidable Weapons
II. Their Utter Ineffectiveness
III. The Comforting Reasons
Psalms: 129:1-8; 78:38-43; 83:1-4,16-18; 124:1-8
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact
Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart
or the elders
CPRC Website: www.cprc.co.uk • Live Webcast:
www.cprf.co.uk/live.html
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quotes to Consider
John Calvin on Isaiah 54:17: “Not only do they revile, and slander, and defame the servants of God, but, as far as lies in their power, they extinguish the truth of God, and alienate the hearts of men from it; which ought to distress us more than if life were taken from us a hundred times. Besides, good and upright men find slander to be more distressing, and to inflict more severe pain than any bodily stroke; and, therefore, there was good reason for mentioning this deadly weapon ... there is nothing of which the Lord’s servants ought to be more certain than of his constant guardianship and preservation, by which he defends them against all dangers ... Whenever, therefore, we are attacked and injured by men, let us learn to betake ourselves forthwith to the Lord; for, when we seek other assistance, the consequence is, that we are deprived of his guardianship and protection.”
Matthew Henry on Isaiah 54:17: “Very precious promises are here made to the church in her low condition, that God would not only continue his love to his people under their troubles as before, but that he would restore them to their former prosperity, nay, that he would raise them to greater prosperity than any they had yet enjoyed. In the foregoing chapter we had the humiliation and exaltation of Christ; here we have the humiliation and exaltation of the church; for, if we suffer with him, we shall reign with him.”
John Gill on Isaiah 54:17: “... all that righteousness and true holiness that is in them, and that righteousness which is imputed to them, and by which they are justified, are from the Lord; by which they are secured from all the charges of law and justice, and, from all the accusations of men and devils, and which will answer for them in a time to come, and acquit them at the bar of God before men and angels.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
We welcome Rev. & Larisa McGeown from the Limerick Reformed Fellowship to our services today. Rev. McGeown will be preaching for us, while Rev. Stewart is in the LRF.
The CPRC Annual General Meeting is tomorrow evening at 7:30 PM. All are invited. Evangelism, audio-visual, missionary and financial reports will be given.
Tuesday Bible Study at 11 AM will discuss the stages in offering a bloody sacrifice.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is “Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit” (Matt. 5:3).
The PRC Synod begins on Tuesday, 12 June. Rev. Stewart will be the CPRC representative this year. Rev. & Mary Stewart leave for the US on Monday, 11 June, and return the following week. The CPRC will have a video service on Sunday, 17 June, and Rev. McGeown will exchange pulpits with Rev. Stewart on 24 June.
Offerings: General Fund: £871.50. Donations: £500, £80.
Translation Additions: 1 Hungarian.
Encouraging Quotes
“Thank you for the large amount of uplifting material you sent. I just read ‘The Vision of the Holy God’ [from the Standard Bearer] by Rev. Garrett Eriks. It makes my heart glad to read our holy God spoken of in this way. In most churches today, God is a tiny god and Jesus a hippy love. I will enjoy reading all these articles.” - England
“Yes, please put me on all of your Covenant Reformed News mailing list. I need to explain how perfectly the way you have your website set up and how the sermons are organized and all of your links are so perfectly in line with how my mind thinks ... you have no way of knowing how incredibly blessed I am to now have stumbled upon you and all of your resources. I have hit gold! So, our Lord has been so kind to me through you.” - California, USA
“Please send me The Unspeakable Gift, The Good Shepherd and His Sheep, a Three Forms of Unity and ‘Reformed Evangelism and the Sunday Evening Gospel Service.’ The problem in London is very few ‘visitors’ attend church in the evening, leaving it to a preaching to the ‘converted.’ In fact, many churches do not hold an evening service now. Appreciate your stand for truth.” - London
“I watched the second part of the Tyre series: ‘The Ship of Tyre.’ Enjoyed that one. Amazed to find a replica passage in Revelation 18.” - Wales
“I’m contacting you about your resource Saved by Grace by Cammenga and Hanko. Would you perhaps have a copy of this in French? About 3-4 years ago a few brothers in Haiti were introduced to the doctrines of grace and it has radically changed their view of God’s Word. They have a ‘new vision of the gospel,’ the overseer [i.e., elder] says to me often. But his desire is to bring this teaching all over Haiti ... The two overseers already began translating this book in good French in order to help the people and the leaders understand the Truth.” - Massachusetts, USA
“Thank you for the Covenant Reformed News. May God bless you in this great work for Him.” - Co. Armagh
“I read the article ‘Recognizing the Catholic/Universal Church’ in the Standard Bearer. It was a very encouraging, sound and bold writing. I really enjoy reading the SB every fortnight, with its valuable and biblical articles.” - Hungary
“I have just spent a wonderful hour or so reading Pastor Stewart’s article on Martin and Katie Luther published in the PRTJ of November 2017. It is such a succinct writing of this very interesting part of Luther’s life and works, and I wonder if it would be possible to have or request a copy of this article? There are increasing numbers among my new church family who have taken to reading the Standard Bearer, as well as quite a number of the publications from the RFPA, which is a joy ... I continue to watch the sermons from Ballymena during the evenings of each week and am greatly blessed. Thank you for forwarding them to me along with the bulletins.” - New Zealand
“Thank you for enclosing with the Covenant Reformed News a copy of your book catalogue. I would like your book, The Reformed Worldview, by David Engelsma and Herman Hanko. I appreciated their book, The Work of the Holy Spirit.” - Scotland
“Could you please send me a copy of The Voice of our Fathers by Homer C. Hoeksema? Thank you for all the pamphlets sent during the year and the excellent books which I treasure. They have been so helpful.” - Co. Antrim
“I’m working as a security man in Qatar and have started a Bible study. I keep on listening to CPRC sermons on my tablet every day: ‘An End-Times Error,’ ‘Are Unbelievers in God’s Image,’ ‘Beware of Dogs,’ ‘Christ’s Coming Is Not Imminent,’ ‘Christ Prays for His Own,’ ‘Coming Short of the Promised Rest,’ ‘Entering God’s Rest,’ ‘Eating the Little Book,’ ‘Ephesus: A Labouring and Disciplining Church’ and many more. Before I wasted my time attending the pentecostal meetings but now I have stopped. By God’s grace, I started a room Bible study here in Qatar and am using Rev. Hoeksema’s Essentials of Reformed Doctrine.” - Qatar
“Thank you so much for the books. The parcel arrived yesterday and I have already read Ye Are My Witnesses. I am deeply impressed and compelled to question many things I’d taken for granted before. One point is particularly noticeable. Both authors reveal their solid theological background and have doubtlessly studied the biblical languages. However, they don’t show off by dwelling at length on a secondary meaning of a Greek word somewhere in the New Testament. Nor do they juggle with misunderstood Hebrew words like many evangelical preachers do.” - Germany
“Would you please send me a box of CDs of ‘The Prayer of the Church in Babylon’ (11 sermons on Isaiah 63:7-64:12). I have been greatly blessed by Prof. Engelsma’s book, Covenant and Election, and also the lovely sermons on Romans 4. They have spurred me on to study, more intensely than I’ve ever done, the whole of Romans. I’m seeing wonderful truths that I haven’t seen before.” - Yorkshire
“I have worked on this pamphlet, ‘The Sovereignty of God’ by Rev. Gise Van Baren. The item is very reforming and transforming. I am giving the hand out to our church Bible school Swahili students, so that they can be edified and equipped.” - Kenya
“Thanks for the e-mails. I am subscribed to the C. R. News, and it is very good and sound. I have watched your Calvinism debate many times and enjoyed it thoroughly. Same with your debate on the gifts of the Spirit and the one on Psalm singing. I keep watching your videos of late, especially.” - Canada
“Thank you for the beautiful book, 1834. I’m looking forward to reading it. I’m reading Prof. Hanko’s book, Portraits of Faithful Saints, which is excellent and a real pleasure to read. It is my humble prayer that God would bless the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church throughout the world when so many visible churches have turned back from the truth and have joined with the papal antichrist.” - Lincolnshire